Taking religion out of Christmas is discrimination

December 8, 2004

Freedom Newspapers

It’s one of the most astounding examples we’ve yet seen of Orwellian “doublespeak,” which turns the meaning of a word or phrase on its head.
Denver officials busily purging all references to Christ from the city’s “holiday” celebrations are actually using the world “inclusive” to describe and justify their patently exclusionist actions.

“We are committed to being inclusive and making sure downtown is everyone’s downtown,” said the director of a weekend Parade of Lights, in explaining why a Christian themed float was barred from participating.

“Inclusivity ” was also cited as the reason Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper had the phrase “Merry Christmas” removed from a display on city property — a decision the mayor reversed when controversy erupted, admitting he hadn’t “thought twice” about who might be offended by the phrase’s removal.

Isn’t that always the way it is with the politically correct? So much thought is given to which squeaky-wheel special interest might be offended by some word or deed that the wishes of the less hypersensitive silent majority becomes an afterthought.

When expunging all references to Christ or religion from public places during the Christmas season gets called “inclusive,” we truly have entered an Orwellian parallel universe. Our understanding of the term “inclusive,” suggesting an effort to “include” everyone, implies the welcoming to such celebrations of Christians celebrating Christmas, Jews celebrating Hanukkah, African-Americans celebrating Kwanzaa and Druids marking the Winter Solstice, if they desire.

The enforced conversion of this special time of the year into some blandly secular “holiday season” — noteworthy for what? an orgy of shopping? — is anything but inclusive. It’s an accepted, even fashionable form of discrimination and bigotry aimed at those for whom the “holiday season” still has religious significance.